7 Reasons Pawn Loans are Better than Payday Loans like CashMoney

Are you considering a payday loan from one of the giants like CashMoney? While it may seem quick and easy, you may not have considered that our pawn loans may actually be a much better option when you need a quick dollar. Today, our experts share 7 reasons why our pawn loans are better than payday loans like CashMoney.

Why Pawn Loans are Better than Payday Loans like CashMoney

1. Fast Cash

Have you ever tried getting a loan from a bank?

By the time you book an appointment, provide all of your financial records and go through all of the checks and balances a bank requires, you can count on having to wait a good 2 to 4 weeks.

If you need money, and you need it now, our Pawn Loans are the perfect solution.

2. No Credit Checks

At Loan Star, we do not perform a credit check and, in fact, don’t consider your credit score at all when it comes to our instant Pawn Loans.

3. No Wage Garnishment

Have you ever taken out a loan, only to be unable to pay it back right away?

When a loan isn’t paid back, many lenders will resort to garnishing your wages, which means they can actually get an order that forces your employer to withhold part of your earnings, and give it directly to the business that holds your debt.

At Loan Star, this isn’t the case. If worse comes to worse, we simply keep your valuable item and sell it to make up for the amount of the loan.

4. Loans of All Sizes

Big or small, we’ve got ’em all. Our loans start at $10 and range all the way up to $20,000. Whether you are in a tight pinch, or need a larger sum of money, our Instant Loans are very flexible.

5. We Pay in Cash

While many other lenders including payday lenders like CashMoney dole out the dough on pre-paid cards, at Loan Star, we pay your loan out in cash, right away.

Gone are the limitations of yesterday!

6. We Cost Less

Considering a payday loan?

Stop right there!

Did you know our loans are easier, faster and cheaper than payday loans?

Our typical 30 day + 7 day grace period Instant Loans have a much lower interest rate than the alternative, and simply end up costing you less.

7. We Won’t Sue You

Loan lovers, beware. Did you know that depending on the lender, if you default on your loan or are unable to pay it back, you could end up with a lawsuit on your hands?

Not so at Loan Star.

If you can’t pay your loan back, we just keep the item you provided as collateral.

It’s really that easy!

Your Trusted Edmonton Pawn Loans

Loan Star is an Edmonton Pawn Shop providing personal loans to Edmontonians. To learn more about our instant loans, get in touch with our friendly team today!

9 Amazingly Easy Songs To Learn on Guitar Today

The Best Easy Songs To Learn on Guitar

Are you trying to learn the guitar, but getting frustrated because you’re not making any progress? 9 times out of 10, this frustration is due to beginners taking on songs that are simply unsuitable for them. Finding the right song is difficult for most beginners, as they don’t know how to tell what song will be easy or which will be too difficult. Here are 9 easy songs to learn on guitar that are perfect for beginners:

1. Creedence Clearwater Revival: “Bad Moon Rising”

As CCR’s second gold single, this song has been recorded by at least 20 different artists, in styles ranging from folk to reggae. This song is a great start to learning some basic chords (D, A and G) and chord switching.

2.Foster the People: “Pumped Up Kicks”

This breakthrough hit and was one of the most popular songs of 2011. It’s simple to learn with one easy chord progression using downstrums on open chords.

3. Cracker: “Low”

You only need four chords (D, C, E and G) to get through “Low,” the 1993 single from Cracker. The song was a hit, reaching No. 3 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart the year it was released.

4. Sublime: “What I Got”

The 1996 single, “What I Got,” was included on Rolling Stone‘s list of “100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time.” It only has two chords, D and G, through both the verse and chorus.

5. X-Ambassadors: “Renegades”

“Renegades,” was released as the second single from the band’s debut studio album VHS in 2015. It found its way inside the top 10 in 10 different countries. With just a few chords to learn, you’ll be playing it in no time!

6. John Legend: “All of Me”

This piano driven song became the second best-selling song of 2014 in the United States with 4.67 million copies sold. “All of Me” sounds equally fantastic on the guitar, and is simple to play. The intro and verse consist of just 4 chords (E minor, C, G, and D) with A minor coming in during the chorus.

7. Delta Spirit – “California”

This 2012 breakout single, earned Delta Spirit some of their first radio airplay. All it takes if four chords (A minor, C, G and D). If you’re looking for easy songs to learn on guitar, this is it!

8. Coldplay – “Clocks”

Coldplay’s massive 2003 hit, “Clocks,” won a Grammy Award for Record of the Year. Master your picking skills while playing this catchy piano melody on the guitar.

9. Bon Iver “Skinny Love”

If you’ve watched “The Voice” over the past few years, there’s a good chance that you’ve heard a contestant sing Bon Iver’s “Skinny Love.” The song’s beautiful old school sounds are easy to play while practicing 8th note strumming and switching between A minor, C, D minor and G/B.

9 Expert Tips for Buying A Used Electric Guitar

For music lovers, nothing quite compares to the joy of picking up a brand new electric guitar.

Buying A Used Electric Guitar

The reality for some, however, is that the sky high price tag on a new stringed beauty isn’t always a realistic option.

Luckily, there are a number of places, like our Edmonton-based pawn shop, where you can buy used electric guitars for a steal – sometimes for even less than half the regular retail price of a new guitar!

Let’s dive right in to our top tips for buying a used electric guitar now.

1. Set a Budget

What are you willing, and able, to spend on your used electric guitar?

Like anything in life, different models and brands of guitar come at varying price points.

By choosing a budget for your used electric guitar before you start shopping, you will be able to get a good idea of which models you may want to consider.

Did you know? An added benefit to buying a used electric guitar from a pawn shop is that it’s completely acceptable to negotiate when it comes to price!

2. Make Sure it Fits

Hands, arms and bodies come in all different shapes and sizes – just like guitars.

When buying a used guitar, always be sure to pick it up and try it out.

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7 Easy Ways to Make Cash Fast That You Didn’t Think Of

Short on cash this month? Gas tank too close to empty? Put some extra cash in your pockets with some of these simple ideas to make money in Edmonton today!

Get Paid to Drive Around and Listen to Music

Why not cash in on the ‘need it now’ economy of today?

Applying to become a Skip The Dishes driver is simple, quick and easy way to rack up some dough. Enjoy a flexible schedule, listen to your favourite songs and make money while you’re at it.

Try a Kijiji Search with This Special Keyword

Need money like yesterday?

Hop on over to Kijiji and select “jobs” then type in “urgent” – you’ll be faced with a long list of employers who need help now –many who may pay in cash on a daily basis.

Many construction sites will need general labour help, parents will need babysitting and restaurants need servers. The list is really endless – try your luck and see which types of fun job opportunities pop up today!

Turn Your Basement Bobbles into Cash

Do you have a box of old baseball cards? An amp from your high school rock band that’s just collecting dust in the corner downstairs? That power sander you bought for that DIY project years ago but haven’t touched since?

We accept all types of items including gold and silvery jewellery like rings, necklaces and bracelets, electronics like laptops and cell phones, power tools, golf clubs and other sporting equipment, musical instruments and collectibles.

If you’ve got items that you aren’t using, why not turn them into cash by popping into our store today?

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Why You Should Choose Pawn Shops Over Yard Sales

Fall yard sale season can be tempting for many people looking for a deal, yet most of those deal hunters haven’t realized that there is a place with better deals and better products that is open year round. That place is a pawn shop. Here are a few reasons why you should choose your local pawn shop over a yard sale.

Guaranteed Quality

Anyone who has been to a yard sale knows that the items available can vary quite widely in terms of quality. Broken items can be placed next to board games with missing pieces, beautiful clothes hang next to jackets with missing buttons and holes in the pockets. When you go through a yard sale, you can often find products that seem amazing, only to discover they are falling apart a week after you bring them home, and you can’t do anything about it except throw it in the garbage.

A pawn shop owner understands that carrying poor quality merchandise will ruin their business and reputation, so they quickly become experts in finding quality pieces. Heading to a pawn shop instead of that yard sale can not only get you better quality items, it means you can buy with confidence.

Curated Content

When you go to a yard sale, you can often find everything from broken furniture to VHS tapes and worn out paperbacks. The actual products for sale are based mostly on two factors: the person not wanting it anymore or them really needing to get rid of it. This means the range of items available and their quality varies dramatically. By contrast, a pawn shop is curated. Items are there because the pawn shop operator knows they will sell. This means a narrower selection of goods that are at a quality that makes them sellable. It’s easier to find what you need and want in a pawn shop.

Unsentimental Pricing

Yard sales are sometimes a mixed bag. You can find pretty decent deals on stuff, but more often than not you can find items that you love that are priced with sentimentality in mind. A person putting on a yard sale is in complete control of the pricing and while they may be open to haggling, they are often too personally involved to price competitively. They have also rarely considered actual market value, meaning you could end up paying more than what the item would go for at a pawn shop.

Pawn shop owners by contrast, price things according to previous sales experience and their expertise on the products. They do not price things because of the memories associated with them. They price them to sell. That means better, fairer pricing for you and less hassle trying to haggle down someone who doesn’t understand why their pricing is too high for an item they love.

When it comes to finding quality used items, it’s best to head to a quality and reputable pawn shop like Loan Star Exchange. With curated items that are high quality and priced to sell, it can be the perfect place to find something unique for less.

Top 5 Mistakes People Make When Pawning

Pawning is a great way to make money but only if you avoid common pawning mistakes. Here are five such pawning mistakes and how to avoid them.

1. Misunderstanding Gold

Gold is one of the most common items that come through the doors at a pawn shop, yet gold itself is one of the least understood items on the planet. You see, the price of gold doesn’t operate like regular fluctuating stocks. It’s remarkably stable and, as a result, pawn shop owners understand the worth of an item mostly by placing it on a scale. Many people who try and pawn gold items try to over-negotiate when the pawn dealer understands just how much they can make by selling it to be melted down.

2. Being Sentimental

Sentimental value is important to some people, but your love of an item isn’t a big factor in pawning. In fact, it works against you when buying and selling. For buyers, they will often pay more than they need to for something they really want. For sellers, they will hold off on a fair price because they are convinced the item is worth more when it really isn’t.

The best way to avoid getting sentimental is to seriously assess whether you want to part with items you are pawning, and to not get overly-invested in items you want to buy before you make your offer.

3. Extreme Negotiating

There is rarely an item in a pawn shop that has a 300 per cent markup, yet many people buying things will try and lowball to save money. Negotiation can be part of the pawn shop experience but assuming large profit margins will shut down negotiations before they get you a stellar deal. The same applies when you are pawning items off. Understand the value of your items and negotiate from there.

4. Not Doing the Research

If you walk into a pawn shop with some items to sell and you haven’t done any research, you will often leave with those items still in your possession. The reason? Pawn shops don’t buy just anything. Be sure to head online and figure out what pawn shops are usually looking to buy and, while you’re there, do some research on what to expect in terms of cash in hand for those items.

5. Breaking Up Collectible Sets

Collectibles are a large part of the pawn shop market, but many people do not understand how to sell their collectibles to make the most amount of money. The best example is collectible sets. Too often, people will try and sell collectible sets as individual items, not understanding that they can often make more for the entire set. After all, not having to hunt down the individual pieces is a major convenience that many people will pay for.

If you are looking to pawn some items, it is in your best interest to do some research on what you want to sell. By taking the time to learn about pawning and your items, you can actually negotiate a better deal and sell more things. Also, be sure to always go to a reputable pawn shop for your pawning.

Counting Down the Most Expensive Watches Ever Made

Watches are the one piece of men’s fine fashion where you are encouraged to go all out. In a world where plain-coloured suits and modest ties are dominating board rooms, watches are the place to show off. While watches are expensive, some of the best, most eye-catching pieces can be found at your local pawn shop.

If you love the flash of a great watch, check out these pieces. They rank as some of the most expensive watches ever made.

7. Rolex Daytona Ref. 6263 Oyster Albino- $4 million

As the most expensive Rolex ever sold, the Daytona Oyster Albino had a run of just four watches. The watch features unique white chronograph sundials. For a company that is synonymous with fancy watches, this piece remains its most expensive and possibly most notable watch.

6. Louis Moinet Meteoris– $4.6 million

Just like the Rolex Daytona, there were only four versions of this watch made, and for good reason: the watch contains an actual moon rock. Each of the pieces are truly unique for what’s hidden inside. These pieces are really out of this world!

5. Hublot Big Bang– $5 million

With 1280 diamonds, the Hublot Big Bang is a total lesson in luxury. Each diamond is cut by the same jeweler in New York to ensure complete consistency. The entire piece is a seamless band and watch of diamonds that takes lavishness to a whole new level.

4. Patek Philippe Ref. 1518 in Stainless Steel- $11 Million

Patek luxury watches are known for their extravagance but they made a big splash with the Philippe 1518 because of its casing. Instead of rose or yellow gold, this piece features a stainless steel casing. Only four were made, which is another reason for its high price tag.

3. Jacob & Co. Billionaire Watch- $18 Million

While not worth billions itself, this watch is expensive enough to only be afforded by the ultra-wealthy. Made with 230 collective carats of diamonds, each emerald cut, this piece has a skeleton face that is as striking as its diamond band.

2. Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication– $24 Million

Created exclusively for Henry Graves Jr., the famous banker and watch collector, the Supercomplication is named for its 24 complications. It also features a perpetual calendar, minute repeater with Westminster chimes, times for sunrise and sunset, and a celestial chart based on the night sky above Graves’ New York home.

1. Chopard 201-Carat Watch- $25 Million

201 refers to the total number of carat diamonds on this watch, which includes a 15-carat pink diamond, a 12-carat blue diamond, and an 11-carat white diamond – 163 carats of white and yellow diamonds make up the rest.

If you have a love of watches, your local pawn shop is the perfect place to find all kinds of pieces at reasonable prices. From practical pieces to luxurious watches that make your outfit pop, there are fantastic finds at your local shop.

Five Signs You are Dealing with a Quality Pawn Shop

A pawn shop is not a second hand shop, a consignment store, or a money lender, but it is some combination of all three of those things. Above all, it is a business and so it should behave like a business, with the proper licenses and know-how, and you should feel as comfortable doing business with a pawn shop as you would with any other retailer in the area.

The signs that you are dealing with a quality pawn shop are:

1) They can provide you with a small loan

A pawn shop is mostly in the business of giving small loans for a short period of time, with a sellable item as collateral. If you need money in a hurry, you can get a loan from a pawn shop and they will hold onto your item for an agreed upon time, until you collect it by repaying the loan within that time and with interest. Most people do return for the items, but if they don’t the store can sell it for the full value. As long as you give a more valuable item as collateral, they will be willing to negotiate for a higher price.

2) They should know the value of the items and understand what they have.

A good pawn shop will know a good piece of jewelry from something gold plated. They will have appraisers on staff and people who can repair jewelry. They will know the value of what you bring in and what you want to buy.

3) They should have a licence

Pawnshops fall under the category of “payday lender” – but don’t confuse them with payday loan companies like CashCo or Money Mart. The distinction is for their classification of licence. Pawn shops in Alberta are legislated by the: Fair Trading Act, Payday Loans Regulation, Cost of Credit Disclosure Regulation and An Act to End Predatory Lending. Each shop must undergo the province’s licensing process to operate legally.

4) They should have good security

Since they are storing your things, they should have a method in place to make sure they are keeping your belongings safe.

5) They are well established in the community and well-liked

A pawn shop should make you feel comfortable in doing business with them. They should be in a good neighbourhood and have a good relationship with the community. You should feel good about any place where you are doing business. Talk to the staff, and go and visit a number of times before you bring in your item to make sure you and the shop can enjoy a great business relationship.

What Exactly Does a Pawn Shop Do?

We have all seen the depictions of pawn shops in the media: shady places where dirty dealings occur in seemingly broad daylight. The truth, however, could not be further from those common depictions. In fact, pawn shops today remain an important part of the world and business. If you have never been to a pawn shop, you may be missing out on some fantastic deals, opportunities, and people. This blog covers the things you need to know about pawn shops, how they work and what they can offer you.

You Can Get Some Quick Cash

Pawn shops offer a wide variety of services to people but one of their most common tasks is buying items from people and adding those items to their inventory. It’s a fantastic way to make some quick cash on things you have that you no longer need, especially if they are items that are in high demand. Recent versions of smartphones, recent electronics, and power tools in good condition are all viable items that can often make you some great money, and a pawn shop is the perfect place to trade them all in.

You Can Sell Jewelry

Most pawn shops these days have close working relationships with precious metal suppliers and jewelry experts. They can often give you top dollar for your gold and silver no matter the form. They can also help you find a home for any jewelry you no longer want, whether that’s selling it to someone who may want it or having it melted down for its metals. Either way, pawn shops can help you make some money off the precious metals in your jewelry.

You Can Get a Loan

People are increasingly turning to pawn shops for short-term loans. These loans are collateral-based, meaning that you have to offer something up for collateral in the event that you default on your loan. The process works differently than banks but your local pawn shop dealer will be able to walk you through the specifics. It’s an excellent way to get some cash that you may need without having to go through the bank.

You Can Find Something Fantastic

One of the best things about pawn shops has changed very little over the decades: the potential to find something amazing. These stores have been acquiring items for years and hidden away on those shelves are things you may have never guessed. Old records, books, items that you need for your home, even replacement phones and electronics. If you want it, there’s a good chance a pawn shop in your area has it, and has it for less.

Your local pawn shop is an excellent resource for everything from quick cash to loans and items that you may need. They are an important part of any community and a vibrant place where people can discover things they never knew existed. If you are in need of cash or are looking for something unique, a pawn shop may have exactly what you were looking for, and even a few things that you weren’t.